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Health equity

What is health equity?

Some population groups are healthier than others, not by personal choice, but because of social, economic and environmental circumstances, over the course of their livesi. Education, unemployment, gender, poverty and sexual orientation are just a few examples of these circumstances, called the social determinants of healthii.

When differences in health are because of reasons that are systemic, patterned, unfair, unjust and actionable, those differences are called health inequitiesiii.

How can we reduce health inequities?

Promoting health equity requires improving the living conditions that keep us healthy, and the social, economic, and health systems that support us when we get sick. Furthermore, tackling the inequitable distribution of power, money and resources is essential for improving health equityiv.

When planning services, programs, and policies it’s important to consider all three aspects of the Equity Triangle: access to services, equality of opportunity for the social determinants of health, and equality of health impacts and outcomesv. It can be difficult to predict how any given program will affect health equity. Health Nexus is a Champion Organization for the Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) toolvi, developed by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care as a way for organizations to identify how their programs, services and policies could positively impact health inequities.

Health Nexus Resources

Provides evidence from the literature on how to embed health equity into organizational capacity. The discussion section provides health promoters and health promotion organizations with evidence to serve as a foundation for tangible health equity activities.

At a story-gathering session, community partners and staff members of the City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) discussed: “What is different about partnership (working with others) that centers the experiences (voices) and decision-making of equity-seeking (justice/fairness) groups?” The story-sharing and paper quilting which followed highlighted important insights about the qualities and actions central to CAWI’s collaborative leadership approach.

Provides an overview of key concepts and definitions in Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) and will help readers usethe HEIA tool to address health inequities in their work with marginalized populations. See the videos section of this page for a webinar recording on this topic.

Other resources

Designed to promote discussion and understanding of key concepts in health equity and spark dialogue, reflection, and action to address the social determinants of health. The series is available in English and French.

Designed to assist all types of organizations in assessing their diversity, equity, and inclusion work. It can be used as a discussion starter in order to enhance understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as to celebrate successes, identify areas for improvement and set a roadmap for action.

A briefing note intended to help distinguish between broad approaches to reducing health inequalities. It clarifies how different policy approaches are grounded theoretically and how they might produce different effects in efforts to reduce health inequalities.

Developed to assist decision-makers, program planners, service providers, and front-line staff in their work to improve the health and wellness of individuals and communities. Content covers concepts of health equity and the social determinants of health as well as practical tools, resources, and methods to support translating knowledge into evidence-informed action.

Fact sheets designed to help public health practitioners and community partners apply promising practices to reduce social inequities in health. A common format identifies essential components, key issues, and tools and resources for each promising practice.

This book, available for download in English and French, offers extensive data on the inequitable distribution of the social determinants of health in Canada. The authors describe the impact of this inequity and offer recommendations to improve population health through action on an oft-cited list of 14 social determinants.

References

i Government of Canada. Chief public health officer’s report on the state of public health in Canada: Addressing health inequalities. 2008.ii Raphael, D. About Canada: Health and Illness. Black Point, NS: Fernwoood Publishing. 2010iii World Health Organization. Health Impact Assessment: Glossary of terms used, 2016. Available at http://www.who.int/hia/about/glos/en/index1.htmliv Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health. Final Report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Geneva, World Health Organization; 2008v VicHealth. Please, Places, processes: Reducing health inequalities through balanced health promotion approaches. 2008vi Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Health Equity Impact Assessment. 2012